I have People

“Do you need me to do something for you?” I yelled through the door. I was somewhat alarmed.

“Nope, I got it.” He sounded positively gleeful.

By the time I got to my office doorway he had stopped making so much noise. He was putting empty beer bottles away.

Mark’s major vice is that he has one beer with dinner every evening. Yes, it’s difficult to call that a vice, isn’t it? The clanging I heard was the empties in a plastic bag coming down the stairs with him on crutches.

“Do you need me to bring up beer for you?”

“Nope, I still have some upstairs.” Shaina had brought beer upstairs for him a week or so ago. He was okay. “I will need you to bring the empties out to the car when I need to buy more.” He brightened. “And, then I have people!” He beamed.

“I go to the nice beer and wine store right next to the Stop & Shop. I go inside on my crutches. I tell them I need help. They come outside and take my empties. They ask me what I want. I tell them. I have people.” This is one happy man.

He contrasted this store with the expletive-deleted store that we no longer patronize. That store was doing us a favor by selling us anything at all. We are happy to patronize this store. Aside from being closer, Mark has people.

We all need people. Some of us need people more than others. Asking for help is not always easy. It’s necessary for many pieces of our lives.

I am delighted that Mark has found it easy to ask for help for so many aspects of this part of his recovery. Asking for help allows him to recover faster. He is not putting his shoulder, ribs, and more importantly, his pelvis at risk.

It’s a gift to ask for help. People want to help. I bet those people in the beer/wine store feel like a million bucks when he asks for help.

Remember, your people are part of your support system. Use them.

Are you people for someone today? Can you give the gift of asking for help?